Mail-bag receiver.



.l. W. PULLIAM.

MAIL BAG RECEIVER. APPLICATION FILED AUG- 11. I916.

Yatented Dec; 26, 1916.

I IVENTOR WITNESSES m 66' 5101M. BY WM.

ATTOR NEY a m. PHOYIJ urun" WAlSnlNuraN, by c i l @Atl PAEN T JAMES W. PULLIAM, OF IVIAX, NEBRASKA.

MAIL-BAG RECEIVER.

Application filed August 11, 1916.

tion and operation which will act automati-.

cally to securely hold a bag of mail delivered into the same.

A further object is to provide a receiver having grasping arms which are normally spaced a comparatively wide distance apart so as to permit ready passage of the mail bag between the same.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is.a side view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section. Fig. 3 is a front view.

In carrying my invention into effect I secure the usual horizontal arm 1 on a post 2 placed at a suitable distance to one side of the track. Arm 1 is held rigidly in hori- Zontal position by an inclined brace 1 secured thereto and to the post 2. .On this arm I secure a laterally projecting approximately semi-circular supporting head 3 having an integral neck 4 and securing. base flange 5. This head is provided with a crescent shaped slot 6 the ends of which are positioned at the forward corners of the head. Beyond the slot 6 the head is pro vided with an integral semi-elliptical shaped guide head 7 Two opposed arcuate arms 8 have their inner portions mounted in the slot 6 of head 3. These arms are curved so as to snugly fit the sides of guide head 7 and each arm is provided, at its inner end, with an integral head 8*. Each head 8 is provided with two shoulders the inner of which cooperates with a suitable recess 8 in the periphery of the guide head. This recess is directed inwardly at an angle. as shown in Fig. 2. The supporting head 3 is provided with laterally projecting lugs 9 which are recessed to receive the inner ends of expansion coil springs 10 the outer ends of which are seated in recesses in lugs 11 formed integral with Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26. 1916.

Serial No. 114,440.

the arms 8. Vhen the arms are in retracted position in the slot 6 ofthe head 3, the coil springs 10 are compressed to act to force the arms outwardly. The inner shoulders of the heads 8 engage the angularly disposed outer edges of the recesses 8 and the inner faces of the inner portions of the arms en gage the side walls of the guide head 7 thus preventing outward movement of the arms S. This will be clearer on reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings. In this figure it will be clear that, in order for the arms 8 to move outward, it isnecessary for the heads 8 thereof to move laterally. This lateral movement of the heads is prevented by the inward lateral inclination of the bases of the recesses 8". In order that the arms can move outward it is first necessary that they be moved inward slightly so as to disengage the heads 8 from the recesses 8", in which case the springs 10 will act simultaneously with this disengagement to force the arms outward, and the heads 8 will engage the sides of the guide head 7 so as to force the inner ends of the arms outward and the outer ends of the arms toward each other. This operation will be referred to more in detail later on.

Mounted between the arms 8 I provide a suitable spacing element or bar adapted to normally hold the arms in spaced relation, this element being supplemental to the guide head 7, and its primary object being to pro vide means for releasing the arms 8. This bar consists of two sections 12 and 12 the outer ends of which are pivoted in lugs 13 formed integral with the arms, 8. The inner ends of these sections are pivotally connected, as at 14-, this connection being such that the arms can fold inwardly only. For this purpose the section 12 is provided with an integral tongue 12 which projects slightly beyond the pivotal point let thus preventing outward movement of the bar sections in the usual manner.

In using my device the mail bag is suspended f'rom the side of a car in the usual manner, and enters between the spaced outer ends of the arms 8. When the bag strikes the spacing rod the members 12 and 12 fold inwardly. At the same time, the impact of the bag against the spacing rod serves to force the arms 8 inwardly so as to release the heads 8 thereof from the recesses 8*. When the heads are thus released the springs 10 expand and force the arms outwardly to ward each other so as to bring the outer ends thereof together. In this position the arms 8 and the sections 12 and 12 of the spacing rod cooperate to form a gripping member which securely retains the mail bag. This will be clear from the position occupied by the arms when they have been forcedto their outermost position, indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In order to limit the outward movement of the arms 8, the supporting head 3 is provided, near each end of the groove 6, with inwardly projecting shoulders 3*. These shoulders restrict the outer ends of the slot and are adapted to be engaged by the outer shoulders of the heads 8 of the arms, thus positively limiting the outward movement of the same. In addition to serving as means for moving the arms into operative position, the coil springs 10 also act as a cushioning device for absorbing the shock due to the impact of the mail bag with the spacing rod. Due to this fact, and the fact that the arms 8 and the spacing rod are moved outward by the coil springs immediately after the impact of the mail bag with the spacing rod, the mail bag itself suifers very slight wear or damage, as I provide means of great resiliency for receiving and supporting the same.

It will be evident that certain changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of my invention without departing from the field and scope of the same, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which a preferred form only of my invention is disclosed.

What I claim is 1. In a mail bagreceiver, the combination of a supporting head provided with an integral approximately semi-elliptical guide head, and an arcuate slot extending about the guide head, a pair of opposed arms slidable mounted inthe supportinghead at the sides of the guide head, means for normally securing the arms in retracted position and in spaced relation, and means for forcing the arms outwardly from the head and toward each other when released from said securing means.

2. In a mail bag receiver, the combination of a supporting head, arms carried thereby and slidable in said head, means for norfoldable spacing member pivotally connected to the said arms and adapted to be engaged by a mail sack so as to cause inward movement of the arms whereby said arms are released from the holding means, and means for forcing the arms outward when so released.

4:. In a mail bag receiver, the combination of a supporting head, a pair of opposed arms slidably mounted therein, means for normally holding the arms in retracted position in the head and in spaced relation, an inwardly foldable spacing rod pivotally connected at its ends to said arms, respectively, and means carried by the head for forcing the arms outward.

5. In a mail bag receiver, the combination of a. supporting head having an arcuate slot and laterally extending lugs, a semi-ellipti cal guide head formed integral with the sup porting head, opposed arcuate arms extending into said slot and curved to fit the guide head, said arms being provided with, shouldered heads on their inner ends and the supporting and guide heads being provided with shoulders and recesses, respectively, adapted to cooperate with the heads of said arms to limit the outward movement of the arms and to secure the arms in retracted positionin the supporting head, said arms being further provided with laterally extending lugs, an inwardly foldable spacing rod pivotally secured at its ends to the arms, and expansion springs confined between the lugs carried by the supporting head and the lugs carried by the arms. 7

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES W. PULLIAM.

Witnesses:

C. C. VENNUM, M. E. PULLIAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of 2atents,

Washington, D. G. V 

